Welcome to Gaia! ::

Lyndin let her examine his face, and he was quite sure that he knew what she was looking for even before she’d said anything. He let her look, because it wasn’t something he cared enough to hide. He was tired. Let her see that he was working. That was taking this seriously. That he didn’t want to be here.

He was homesick, too.

He had been for most of his life.

“I haven’t spent a lot of time out here appreciating the natural sunlight,” he admitted. “I’ve been working on some projects. I haven’t had any breakthroughs to help with Velencya, so I have taken a little time to do what I can to try and improve this world.” He didn’t go into it too much, and it was clear that his projects were still in development.

“But you’ve presented me with a good suggestion. I’ll take it to heart. Perhaps I’ll spend tomorrow researching out in Destiny City instead of trying to finish up the things in my workshop. Maybe I’ll go to bed early tonight and see if that does anything to restore my sleep cycle.”

Maybe it was her crossed arms, or her cheeky look, or the way she was threatening him with Aliez, but Lyndin stood up a little straighter–and laughed.

It wasn’t a full belly-laugh, Lyndin could never come undone so much, but it was something born of genuine humor, and in that moment some weight must have lifted off of his shoulders. It was enough to distract him from the burden of obligation and guilt and desperation.

It lasted for a few seconds, and when his laughter faded, he continued to smile.

“That it is, Fae-Fae. I will not have you burden Aliez. I’ll see to it that I get a bit of quality rest before I resume my work. I appreciate the reminder. I will have no regrets about this promotion. I hope you will look after the rest of the Vanguard as well as you look after me.”